~ READ THIS AND YOU'LL BE INTERESTED IN RISKING IT ALL! ~

 Howdy folks! We are here today with Kyle Morgan from RISKING IT ALL, J.M. Stewart's newest contemporary romance. So, hi, Kyle. Nice to have you here. Let's dive right in, okay? 

Tell me about yourself? What is your occupation? Why? What are your strengths & weaknesses?


“My name is Kyle Morgan. I’m 30, my best friend is a woman, and I’ve pretty much decided to stay single. Yeah, I think that about sums it up. I’m a police officer by trade. Specifically, I’m a detective for a local department. Why did I become a cop?” *shrugs* “I wanted to help people. I currently work in Homicide, and as hard as it can be, I enjoy helping the families left behind find peace. The dead deserve to have someone speak for them. “Strengths and weaknesses?” *Rubs his chin, the corners of his mouth twitching.* “Let’s see…good-looking, charming, witty—”


*A small stuffed animal flies in from another room, hitting the back of his head.*


“Hey!” *Swivels around, his grin widening at the sight of the woman standing in the archway.* “My sister Becca. I’m willing to bet she has something to add to this discussion.”


*Becca strides into the room, plopping down onto the couch beside him.* “He’s not humble, that’s for sure.”


*Kyle laughs again.* “My oldest brother, Evan, would probably tell you I’m a jokester and not serious enough.”


*Becca rolls her eyes.* “Evan’s serious enough for all of us.”



*Kyle nods.* “True that. Okay, seriously…my strengths? I like to think I’m a nice guy.”



*Becca lets out a dramatic sigh.* “All right, I guess I’ll give him that one. He is a nice guy. Sometimes, too much.”



“I’m also not afraid to stand up for what I believe in. Weaknesses? I’m a pushover.” *Nudges Becca with an elbow.* “Just ask Becca.”



*Becca blushes.* “Goes with the nice guy thing he’s got going on.”



What’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?

“I’m third of four. Evan and Chase are older. Becca’s the youngest. Which puts me somewhere between the forgotten middle child and the spoiled baby.” *winks.*


*Becca purses her lips and shakes her head.* “Kyle’s the class clown. Evan is the one who makes us toe the line, the rule enforcer. Chase is the quiet one. Kyle has always been the one who made everyone laugh.”


*Kyle grins and glances at Becca.* “That makes you the spoiled brat.”



*Becca folds her arms, but her lips twitch.* “Darn straight.”


*Kyle turns back to me, expression sobering.* “We were raised by our mother. She’s a strong woman. She gave us a strong sense of family, taught us to rely on each other. We get together every chance we can and you’ll find we’re loud and boisterous. And as you can see, we tease each other as easily as we blink, but it’s because we’re all close. How does my upbringing affect me now? That’s easy. Family’s important. I rely on my siblings and their families. There’s what,” *darts a glance at Becca* “12 of us now? There isn’t any one of them I couldn’t call at a moment’s notice if I needed to.”


What is your earliest childhood memory?

*Rubs the back of his neck.* “Now you’re asking the hard questions.” *Sighs and sits forward, resting his elbows on his knees.* “That would probably be the day my father left. I think I was five at the time. I have a memory of the look on his face as he walked out the door. Like I was an annoying bug, a mosquito buzzing in his face. We haven’t heard from him since. That memory stuck with me over the years. I grew up bound and determined not to be anything like him. Which is partly why my family is so important to me, why we stick together.”



How did you two meet? What was your first impression of heroine?


“Ceci and I met eons ago. I was ten, she was seven. She and her grandmother had just moved into the property next to ours. I met her down on the riverbank that runs at the end of our properties. I was throwing stones if I’m not mistaken and wondering how far I’d make it if I tried to swim across.” *laughs.* “She wandered down there and found me. First impression? She was as tall as me, all legs and arms, and she looked scared. Like she wasn’t sure if she could trust me. So, I sat down, took off my shoes and socks and stuck my feet in the water. I tossed in rocks and talked to her. About everything. The river. The bugs. The trees I’d climbed that day and even my annoying little sister. Took me a long time to get her to relax around me. At least a year.”


What do you like about the heroine?

“She’s shy and quiet, humble. She’s stronger than she thinks, she doesn’t ask for much, and like the rest of my family, I can count on her in a pinch. My job isn’t easy. Sometimes the bad guys get away, and she’s like…a little piece of serenity at the end of the day. She centers me. And she’s always there for me when I need her. If I have a rough night, I call her. She’ll always pick up. She’s the first person to be happy for me, and the first person to cheer me on, but she isn’t afraid to stand up to me and tell me I’m wrong, either. That she’s soft and feminine doesn’t hurt either.” *winks*



If you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it?

“Ah, an easy question. Spend it with Ceci. I don’t even care what we do. Something as simple as making dinner and renting a DVD is a really good night. Though, honestly, I like sitting on the riverbank with her, just watching the water.”



What CD is in your CD player right now?

“Led Zeppelin.”

Blurb ~ 

She’s everything he wants…


For years, Kyle Morgan has hidden his true feelings from the gorgeous girl next door that he grew up loving and protecting. But when she shows up at his apartment in the middle of the night, desperately needing comfort and support, his iron will begins to waver…



…and the only thing he can’t bear to lose.


Kyle was always the big brother Cecelia Anton never had, but suddenly her goofy best friend has become a sexy man she can’t keep her thoughts—or hands—off of. As their deep connection melts into uncontrollable desire, Ceci is willing to put it all on the line for a shot at true love. Only Kyle is keeping a terrible secret about Ceci’s past that could destroy not only their lifelong friendship but their happily-ever-after…



Buy link: Penguin

Bio ~

JM writes passionate, heartfelt contemporary romance. She’s a wife, a mother, a spiritualist, and lover of puppies, and happily addicted to coffee and chocolate. She lives in the rainy Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. She’s a hopeless romantic who believes everybody should have their happily-ever-after and has been devouring romance novels for as long as she can remember. Writing them has become her obsession. 

You can find out more about JM or her books here: Website /Blog /Twitter /Facebook

~ OH, YES! YOU NEED TO BE PART OF OPERATION:GENOCIDE! ~

BLURB -


An inhuman agenda…

In 1982, Annette Pretorius lives a life of privilege afforded to those of European descent in South Africa, but when her husband is murdered, she discovers a shattering secret: he’d been commissioned by the whites-only South African government to develop a lethal virus aimed at controlling the growth of the black population–already oppressed under the cruel system of apartheid.

A clandestine organization…

The murder came with a warning to Annette from a secretive organization: keep our secrets or you too will die. Captain Trevor Watson, Annette’s former boyfriend, is appointed to lead the investigation. Watson’s loyalty is tested as the evidence stacks against his high school sweetheart.

And the killing isn’t over yet…

When the investigation points in a terrifying direction, Annette and Watson face a wrenching choice: protect those they love or sacrifice all to save innocents from racial extermination.

Praise for Operation: Genocide

Diabolical motives and charismatic characters populate Yvonne Walus’ breath-stealing adventure, Operation: Genocide. — Dr. Allen Wyler

EXCERPT -

Pretoria, South Africa, One year earlier

PROLOGUE

Professor Adelbrecht of the Biotech Research Agency for Vital Operations felt bile rise to his mouth as he watched one of the government’s highest officials wipe red stickiness off his fingers and extract cotton balls from his large, protruding ears. The whop-whop of the ceiling fan added a bizarre sense of ordinariness to the scene.

“I’m listening,” the minister said. The cotton balls fell into the waste paper basket with an ominous absence of sound.

Adelbrecht talked fast.

“Brilliant. You sure it’ll work?” The minister’s question hung heavy in the sizzling African air.

The professor’s mouth went dry. “Yes.” If genocide is really what you want.

“This office has full confidence in you and your team. We understand the Ebola virus was both an unfortunate and unforeseeable accident.”

Spoken like a true politician, yet the professor felt the atmosphere in the room turn as thin as the ground under his feet. “That’s correct, Minister.”

“Right. What guarantee do we have this new virus won’t go ape-crazy?”

“With all due respect, Minister, Ebola was transmitted through any personal contact. The new virus we’re proposing will be contagious only via sexual relations. Nothing else.”

“So an infected maid will still be able to cook for you, but won’t pass the virus on?”

“Hundred percent correct, Minister.” Assuming you don’t sleep with her. But that was illegal, forbidden by the Immorality Act.

“Goes without saying that this discussion never took place.”

“Yes, Minister.”

“Even the prime minister doesn’t know about this project.”

Like hell he didn’t.

“The limousine is at your service, Professor. The driver will take you wherever you desire.”

Relief washed over him. He started rising from the sofa, ever the obedient puppet.

“Oh, and Professor?”

“Yes?”

The Minister Without An Official Portfolio rose, his shoulders blocking out the sunlight of the summer day outside. “This is your final warning.” Suddenly, he didn’t sound like a politician anymore. “Mess this up, and you’ll wish you were dead.”

BIO -

By trying to portray what South Africa was like at the height of its apartheid era, by inspecting both sides of the coin, I’m sure I’ve managed to offend all parties. Still, I’m not sorry.

South Africa means a lot of things to a lot of people: lions in long yellow grass, diamond mines, apartheid, Nelson Mandela, rugby. All of those images are right, yet none of them – in my opinion – are representative of the misunderstood country or its people. None of them describe what it’s like to live in South Africa, both in the 1980s and today. I’d like my readers to smell the red dust of the continent and to fall in love with Africa the way I did when I first set foot there as an impressionable teenager, a refugee from communism and the bitter cold of Poland. I left my heart in Africa, and I invite you to do the same.

You can find Yvonne here:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

You can buy OPERATION:GENOCIDE here:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

GIVEAWAY -

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TRUST ME ~ YOU'LL LIKE THIS BOOK ~ A MATTER OF TRUST

You think you've got it bad ~ she has to relay on a Demon Admiral to protect her from her own family. Now that's A MATTER OF TRUST! Welcome, Greta Van Der Rol with her new release!

Hi and thanks for having me.

One of the things I like best about science fiction romance is that you get to create worlds of your very own for the action to take place. Since my books are space opera, there's always a bit of planet hopping, with a variety of different environments. However, for humans and aliens to interact without having to wear protective suits and breathing gear they would all need to come from planets with similar basic characteristics, such as atmosphere and size. You'll find a similar assumption in many of the space operas. Sometimes the planets have been terraformed, as in Elizabeth Moon's Serrano and Vatta series. Sometimes, as in Star Wars, that's just the way it is, and swarms of sentient beings from all over the Galaxy can gather in a cantina on Tattooine without any problems.

In her travels during A Matter of Trust Princess Amira finds herself in a market on a planet called Laremenssa.

Larson grasped Amira's upper arm as they stepped into a crowded alley. "Watch out for street snatchers and stay close."

Amira could have stayed here for days, roaming around sampling goods. Trestle tables groaned with melons and tubers and spike fruit. Stalls offered all types of clothing, exotic pottery, strange medicines and extraordinary weapons. A Limnian sold beautifully-crafted rings, necklaces and earrings, suspended for viewing on a wire frame. At another stall, a Dron argued with the stall holder. Amira couldn't decide where to look next in this incredible kaleidoscope of sound and color. A vendor carrying a tray sidled past, trailing the astringent aroma of some foodstuff he carried. Humans with baskets wove their way through the crowd. Selling chants from different booths merged into the blare of noise. A black-skinned Jort pushed past her, moving easily through the crowd. That was unusual. Jorts were rarely seen outside their own group of planets. They were often called demons because of their ebony skin and red eyes. She'd only met one Jort.

And we know who that is, don't we?

Do you have a favourite alien from a book, movie or TV series?

Blurb ~

Will the Demon Admiral protect her from her family? Princess Amira is ready to start a new life after the death of her husband, but that doesn’t include marrying the man her father picks out for her. Pursued by his agents, she races across the galaxy in a desperate search for a safe haven. Amid simmering tensions at the edge of the Empire, Amira renews her acquaintance with Imperial Admiral Ul-Mellor. Although his detractors call him the Demon Admiral, Amira finds him intelligent, articulate, and very attractive.

But Ul-Mellor is not human and Amira is a princess – far above Ul-Mellor’s status on his home world. He and Amira will have to overcome a gulf of cultural and class differences if they’re to turn their mutual attraction into a relationship. And what will Ul-Mellor do when faced with a choice – Amira or his hard-won commission?

Excerpt ~

Amira strode across the ornate polished stone floor of her father’s private sitting room and into his study. “You wanted to see me, Father?”

Prince Fedor Hezkurin looked up from the paperwork on his desk and scowled, his gaze flicking over her. “Amira, my dear, I wish you wouldn’t wear those peasant clothes. They don’t become you.”

“They’re very practical for my work with the Tuchaska.” She pulled off the clasp that tied back her ponytail and shook her head, sending her hair dancing around her shoulders.

Hezkurin sighed. “That doesn’t become you either. You should not be wasting your time with aliens.”

Amira pulled over a chair and sat facing him. Yes, she probably did need a shower, and a change of clothes, too. Her boots had probably left a trail over her father’s floor. But she wasn’t going to apologize. “It was their planet before we took it over.”

“Yes, my dear and we’ve been the rulers for two hundred years.”

“They provide the labor for your estates. If somebody doesn’t help them you won’t have a labor force at all.” They’d had this discussion before. He didn’t care about mysterious illnesses that only affected the Tuchaska. As far as he was concerned there were enough of them to get the work done. Without her intervention their physician wouldn’t have been able to obtain sufficient drugs to treat the sick. Today she’d helped the doctor move two patients from their home to his clinic.

He nodded absently.

Her fingers beat a staccato tattoo on the arm of the chair. He was up to something. She could always tell. His eyes became shifty, darting around, and he fiddled with the objects on his desk. “Well?”

Prince Fedor shifted the picture of his wife one more time and took a deep breath. “I’ve been talking to Baron Ghaurondo.”

Ghaurondo? Big fat, ugly, loathsome Ghaurondo. She cocked an eyebrow. “How nice for you.”

“He’s a very powerful man, Amira.”

“Only in the Arondean Hegemony.”

Her father frowned. “Which is ten systems and where we live.”

“Yes, fine.” Amira crossed her legs and folded her arms. Her heart beat a little faster. This wasn’t sounding good. “So what?”

The Prince scratched absently at his neck above the ornate collar of his uniform. Goodness, that was a very bad sign. This wasn’t going to be good at all.

“As you know, we’ve not had the best of seasons. And we’re very dependent on the Arondean Hegemony… to buy our harvest, anyway. They’ve found other places to supply their agricultural products.” Fedor paused and licked his lips.

“What has that to do with me, father?”

“Baron Ghaurondo has always admired you.”

“Him and a few others.” Her pulse galloped. She had an idea she knew where this was going.

“He’s asked for your hand.”

“Sorry, I need both of mine.” She wished this was some sort of ridiculous joke. Or maybe she’d wake up in her own bed. “Father, you can’t be serious. He’s a bag of fat on legs. He’s got body odor.”

“Amira, darling, don’t make this difficult. It’s time you married again. He’s rich and powerful—”

“He’s twice my age and disgusting. No.” Anger boiled in her belly. So he thought he could order her about like a teenager, did he? She should never have come back here. “And why do I have to marry again anyway?”

“Christoph’s been dead for a year now and you’re not getting any younger.”

“Don’t give me the grandchildren story. I don’t want to hear it.” She stared at him, a horrible thought insinuating itself into her mind. He couldn’t mean…? Surely not. But his face was composed, the sort of look her father gave his estate manager when he’d made up his mind. “Oh, how obscene. With that… that…”

“Look at it from the family’s point of view, darling. It’s a strategic alliance. In the short term, Baron Ghaurondo can guarantee sale of our harvest. Without that, we’re in for a very hard time.”

“So you’re selling me to keep your economy going.”

“No. In the longer term, we become part of a powerful family that will secure our future here. You would be mother of the future Baron.”

Amira’s lip curled in disgust. “Oh, please, father. Ghaurondo already has a gaggle of sons.”

“He has promised your son will become—”

“So you’re selling me to gain political advantage. You disgust me.” At least he had the decency to squirm.

“No.” He scratched his neck again. “Look at the positives. Ghaurondo can give you anything you want. Jewels, clothes, finery, antiques.” He made an expansive gesture with his arm. “Anything at all.”

“He has nothing I want.”

The prince cleared his throat. “I’ve agreed, Amira. Baron Ghaurondo will be here tomorrow to collect his betrothed.”

Her heart lurched. Tomorrow. The bastard. “You didn’t think it might have been nice to discuss your plans for my life with me?” She jabbed her finger at her chest.

He leaned back in his chair, his fists on the desk, his gaze fixed on her face. “I knew what you’d say. But sometimes I have to think about more than just my immediate family’s interests.”

This was beyond acceptable. He might have sired her but contempt for him rose like bile in her throat. She rose to her feet and leaned over the desk at him. “You can’t do this. I’m thirty-six years old, not some naïve teenager to force into a strategic union.”

He flinched, but his jaw set. “I’ve given my word. It will be done.”

Amira shook her head slowly. “I’ve not given mine.” You contemptible bastard. She spun on her heel and strode toward the door, her boots ringing on the stone.

Her father’s sigh followed her. “I had hoped it would not come to this but you leave me no choice.”

The door opened. Six of the palace security guard waited outside.

Amira turned to her father, who stood behind his desk in his general’s pose: back straight and in command. He didn’t look at her, directing his attention at the armed men. “Escort Princess Amira to her apartments. She is not to leave without my express permission.”

Amira glowered at her father. Right now contempt wasn’t a good enough word. She despised him. “Do you think my mother would have approved of this?”

He looked at her then, a swift glance filled with sorrow before he said to the squad commander, “Take her away.”

“I despise you.” She marched off, flanked by the guards.

Author Bio ~

Greta van der Rol loves writing action-packed adventures with a side salad of romance. Most of her work is space opera, but she has written paranormal and historical fiction. She lives not far from the coast in Queensland, Australia and enjoys photography and cooking when she isn’t bent over the computer. She has a degree in history and a background in building information systems, both of which go a long way toward helping her in her writing endeavours.

You can find Greta at:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Google+ | Pinterest

You can buy A MATTER OF TRUST at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Payhip

Giveaway ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~ WOO! WHAT AN EXCERPT! ~

Good morning! I am happy to welcome author Lyndi Lamont with her romance How To Woo...A Reluctant Bride. Lyndi was kind enough to bring with her the heroine of that book, Ms. Lydia Blatchford. She even asked Lydia a few questions for us.

LL: What’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?



LB: My family qualifies as impoverished gentry, mostly because of my father's debts and mismanagement.



LL: Has life handed you any major disappointments?



LB: Yes. Had my dowry been larger, I might have been wed years ago instead of being sold in marriage to a merchant for an unspecified sum. But as I had quite given up hope of ever marrying, I agreed to the arrangement.



LL: Describe your hero. What was your first impression of him and did it change over time?



LB: He was more handsome than I expected, in a dark, exotic way, and with a deep voice that causes me to shiver. What I didn't expect was to inspire passion in him, nor could I have expected him to be so... creative in his approach to wedded love. Our marriage has been quite a revelation to me.



LL: Is there anything about your hero that you would consider a flaw?



LB: I blush to admit that I was a little doubtful about marrying a man with Indian blood, but Evan more than made up for it with his consideration and ardor.



LL: What is it that you want out of life?



LB: As a girl, I wanted romance, you know, the kind you read about in novels. Now I just want to be loved and to have a family.

Romance Super Bundle II: Second Chances 

by Dale Mayer, Donna Marie Rogers, Stacey Joy Netzel, Amy Gamet, Edie Ramer, Lois Winston, Pamela Fryer, Georgina Lee, Kate Kelly, Wendy Ely and Lyndi Lamont



Now available for only 99 cents (US) and featuring NY Times, USA Today, Amazon & B&N bestselling authors!


A lonesome cowboy, a heartbroken widower, a spurned bride-to-be, an unexpected pregnancy, intrigue, murder and more…485,000 words/nearly 2000 pages of heroes and heroines in need of second chances in eleven romantic stories.



You can buy ROMANCE SUPER BUNDLE II : SECOND CHANCES here:



Amazon US: http://amzn.com/B00LH382SQ

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LH382SQ

Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00LH382SQ

All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-romancesuperbundleiisecondchances-1562474-166.html

BN/ Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/romance-super-bundle-ii-amy-gamet/1119912653

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/romance-super-bundle-ii-second/id896143703?mt=11&uo=4

Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/romance-super-bundle-ii-second-chances

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/454767



Add to your shelf at Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22663871-romance-super-bundle-ii



Stories included in the set:

Blurbs ~

Second Chances—Dale Mayer

Go ahead. Take Charge of your life. Move forward…if you can…

Changing her future means letting go of her past. Karina heads to a weekend seminar to do try to do just that. But she soon realizes bigger issues are facing her…



And one of them is deadly…



The Perfect Blend—Donna Marie Rogers

Carrie is on the verge of bankruptcy when Matt walks in and offers her unwanted business advice. The rich playboy fled L.A. for the anonymity of small town life and quickly falls for the local coffee shop owner—who’s as infuriating as she is beautiful.



The Heart of the Matter—Stacey Joy Netzel

Heartbroken she can’t have kids, Allie keeps her distance when Rick moves home with an adorable 4 yr old son who’s as hard to resist as his father. Does she dare take a chance on an impossible dream, or will his desire for more kids devastate their future?



Meghan’s Wish—Amy Gamet

Meghan O’Connor returns to the family she ran away from as a teenager, afraid they won’t forgive her for leaving town with Liam Wheaton, the boy they tried so hard to keep her away from and the father of her baby. She never expected to find Liam living there, looking sexier than ever and mad as all hell.



Mo’s Heart (Miracle Interrupted, Book 5)—Edie Ramer

Mo Vincent did the right thing in New Jersey, and it cost him his son, his wife, his restaurant. Now he’s found a home in Miracle, Wisconsin. He should be content…but his heart wants what he can’t have…



Hooking Mr. Right—Lois Winston

A failure at relationships, Thea is secretly a bestselling romance guru. Luke is pursued by women using her books to snare him. When they meet, he thinks he’s finally found an honest woman, but Thea’s got more secrets than the CIA. Can a butt-ugly cat named Cupid play matchmaker?



The Lost Finder—Pamela Fryer

The first halfway decent guy to come along in eons…and he’s from another planet.



Private Investigator Brooke Weaver hopes she can slip into her Oregon hometown, find her client’s missing teenage daughter, and be on her way again before anyone notices. Not likely.



Cape of Secrets—Georgina Lee

Marika Host lands a dream summer job helping renowned archeologist Sir William write his memoirs, exposing years of secrets. His son Derrick adds romance to her summer. But when Sir William is murdered, Marika realizes some secrets are best kept buried.



Shattered—Kate Kelly

Failing to save his sister’s life, Jay Rawlings insists he be left alone to live the lonesome cowboy life. But when the woman he once loved returns to his ranch with a killer and the police in hot pursuit, Jay has to face the demons from his past.



In His Embrace—Wendy Ely

When life’s glow threatens to die, love guides the way.



Tori expected an ordinary Friday. It wasn’t. Ben’s hand rested on her hip a little longer during their goodbye. Then her tests came back abnormal. Scared and alone, she wishes for Ben’s hand to hold. Can he make it back to her in time?



How To Woo…A Reluctant Bride—Lyndi Lamont

A marriage of convenience, nothing more…until darkly handsome Evan Channing and demure Lydia Blatchford meet. The rules are simple for such an arrangement. No expectations, no illusions of anything more. But the rules are about to change…

Excerpt ~

Excerpt from How To Woo…A Reluctant Bride—Lyndi Lamont, steamy Victorian romance:



She licked her lips then plunged ahead. “I know how these things work. Arranged marriages, that is. I won’t expect fidelity from you.”



His shocked expression surprised her. “Is that what you think, Lydia?



That I’m marrying you with the intention of cheating on you?”



“Perhaps not now,” she said. “But in a few years… It’s not as if ours is a love match. I won’t cut up a fuss if you decide to take a mistress. As long as you are discreet.”



“How very… sophisticated of you,” he said, his tone dry enough to parch a desert.



She took a deep breath before continuing. “And once I’ve produced the requisite heir and spare, I assume I’ll be free to seek my pleasure elsewhere.”



The thunderous look on his face startled her and she stepped back.



“You will do no such thing,” he said fiercely, reaching for her. “Ours may not be a love match now, but I fully intend to see it turns into one.”



With that, he pulled her into his embrace, trapping her arms between them as his encircled her shoulders and waist.



Covering her mouth with his, he kissed her with a heady combination of passion and anger. Her resistance crumbled in the face of his onslaught. She clutched at his lapels and returned his kiss, even parting her lips when his tongue probed them. Overwhelmed by the sensations his lips provoked, she let her eyes drift shut as she clung to him.



When he let her go, he was still visibly upset. “There will be no more talk of infidelity. Have I made myself clear, Lydia?”

Author Bio ~

Lyndi Lamont is the racy alter ego of author Linda McLaughlin, who writes historical and Regency Romance. Since becoming Lyndi Lamont, she has discovered that writing sexy romance is a license to be naughty, at least between the pages of a book.



You can find Lyndi Lamont here:

Website http://lindalyndi.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/LyndiLamont

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/LyndiLamont

Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LyndiLamont/

Twitter https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont



Thanks for hosting me. 

Giveaway ~

Anyone who leaves a comment will be entered in my monthly drawing for a $15 Starbucks e-gift card, so don’t be shy!

~ STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU! ~ GIRL IN THE MIDDLE! ~

As a middle child myself, I find the premise of this book intriguing! Add in romance and suspense, and I'm there! How many of you are middle children? There have got to be a lot of us out there. Join us as we look at this new young adult romance from author Christine Bailey.

Blurb ~

Fifteen-year-old Skye, the middle child, finds herself wishing for a new life-one that doesn’t include daily harassment from the in-crowd at Highland Creek High School. Skye barely survived freshman year. She only did because her best friend, Goose, a semi-popular fellow band geek, was by her side. But when their sophomore year starts, Goose ditches Skye for a new crowd.

Cast into a lone existence at Highland Creek, Skye wishes for a touch of extraordinary that everyone, except her, seems to have. Her older sister, Sara Elizabeth, has it. Goose is getting close to it, and even her little sister is wildly popular in junior high. Skye would do almost anything to cast off her ordinary life…but at what price?

When her older sister goes missing without a trace, Skye gets her wish…but it’s not exactly what she had in mind. And when she questions Bryan, the senior class renegade and also the last person to be seen with her sister, she finds something she never quite expected.

Excerpt ~

After the bell, I headed to Ms. Stone’s classroom

for lunch. It had become my usual place for dining since Lauren and I were so on-again, off-again. I really had no other place to go. But when I walked in, I found the principal and the school counselor—always a bad combination—sitting with Ms. Stone. My gut lurched.

The principal, Mr. Jones, was sitting on the corner of Ms. Stone’s desk with a roll of fat spilling over his belted pants. Mr. Munsey and Ms. Stone sat close to him. They all turned to me, and I began to inch backwards. The room was still. I fixated on the literature posters on the wall. William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, and Charles Dickens stared at me. Ms. Stone eased toward me. I sighed slowly through my nostrils. My heart raced, and everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. All I could think was: what have I done? Then I thought, someone’s dead. I was quickly assured that I was not in trouble, that they just wanted to talk to me for a few minutes. I tried to think of something questionable that I had done. Ms. Stone informed me that she had read my latest paper.

“Which one?” I asked. I tried to figure out which paper she was talking about.

“The one on Romeo and Juliet?” Then it hit me.

“I didn’t plagiarize,” I said.

“No, the one you turned in a couple of days ago.” I shrugged.

“Your essay was a little disturbing to Ms. Stone,” said Mr. Munsey. “She asked me to read it and give her my thoughts. That’s why I’m here.” Mr. Munsey, a large and bushy-haired man, looked about the same age as Ms. Stone, like around thirty-something probably. He had the mountain-man look—okay on a movie star, but not so much on Mr. Munsey.

“I don’t even remember what it was about. I wrote it last week when I had my migraine.”

“A story about ‘offing the populars,’ as you put it,” Mr. Jones said.

I slumped into a chair and said, “Oh. My short story.”

“Skye, we’re just concerned…” Mr. Munsey said. “About you being bullied.” He really dragged out the word concerned.

“I’m fine, and the story was not a hit list or plan or anything. I was just having a bad day and wrote a stupid story. It was like therapy. It was supposed to be funny, actually.”

“Well, it’s enough to make us question you,” Mr. Munsey said.

“It’s not a journal entry,” I said. “It’s not a cry for help or anything. I was just writing. It’s a fictional story about a school with no populars. No hierarchy. No Queen Bees or loud-mouthed jocks.”

The counselor pointed out a specific passage. He said, “Skye, it’s just realistic, and it concerns me.” That word again. “See, right here where you say, ‘The cheerleader, wide-eyed and gasping for air, clutched her bleeding stomach. She lifted her fingers and studied the warm liquid that had painted them a deep red, almost dark as night. She looked up into the eyes of her enemy…’”

“I have an active imagination.” Pause. Shrill laughs filtered in from the hallway. I even recognized one of the chicken laughs as Lauren’s. “I watch too much TV?” Pause. The chicken clucked again.

“You can’t write about ways to eliminate popular kids—or anyone for that matter. You watch the news. You know what’s going on in the world today. It’s a scary place,” Mr. Munsey said. He looked at me over his thickly rimmed glasses. I realized in that moment, standing before the jury and still hearing the chicken laugh from the hall, that I was in trouble.

“I was just writing a story…that’s all,” I said. I volunteered myself for any kind of test or evaluation to prove I was not crazy. Big mistake. They jumped on it.

Mr. Munsey wiped his glasses on a handkerchief (those disgusting, snot-holders should be outlawed, by the way). The trio exchanged looks, and then Mr. Jones and Mr. Munsey stood up. Their chairs scraped against the tiled floor. Before filing out of the room, Mr. Munsey said he’d be in touch about starting “sessions” with me or something. They left me alone with Ms. Stone.

“I’m so sorry, Skye, but I did this out of concern for you. I’ve been worried, and then this paper…”

“Wow, do I really look that pathetic and sad?” We stood looking at each other. The blue-gray circles under her eyes became sharper under the fluorescent lights. The window facing the quad outside caught my attention and pulled me away from Ms. Stone’s face. The quad was filled with activity. I saw blurs of color flash in front of me. Pink, wind-chapped faces, blue varsity jackets, white-blonde hair. I closed my eyes and shut everything out. “Can I leave?” I asked.

“I would still like to talk, Skye.”

“Maybe later, if that’s okay,” I opened my eyes and stared at her. She had betrayed me. “Can I leave?” I said again.

“Sure.”

I flew to the bathroom. My make-up had run in places from the tears. I haphazardly reapplied some make-up to my blotchy cheeks and chin. Then I smoothed it in slowly, covering the little bumps on my face with the foundation. I squeezed on berry-flavored lip gloss for good measure. Though it didn’t do much to help, the berry taste was a tiny comfort. Then I went and hid in the library. It was just a stupid story. I played the conversation over and over in my mind. The bell rang for fourth period and then for fifth. I was numb and couldn’t move from the hard, cold chair. The smooth surface of the table felt good against my face, too. At one point, I saw Ms. Stone through my hair that had fallen across my eyes, but I didn’t acknowledge her. Eventually she left.

Finally, I mustered up enough strength and took out a small mirror from my bag. I cringed at the streaks of mascara on my face. I tried to rub them away, but my face was a wreck. I glanced down at my watch and freaked. I had been hiding out in the library for over two hours. I had twenty minutes to pull myself together before last bell. I gathered up my stuff and snuck out of the library, straight to the math hall for a more obscure bathroom. I did not want to chance it by going to the one in the main hall. My instincts were good. It was empty. I dumped my purse out into the sink and began my patchwork. That’s when it went from bad to worse.

Zoë, with her perfect looks and ego the size of New York City, pranced in with her royal court in tow. I didn’t look up. I was told to never ever make eye contact with the enemy.

“Hello, Skye.”

“Hi,” I said and looked up stupidly. She smiled at me with her perfectly straight, perfectly white, and perfectly over-sized horse teeth. Her mouth, too big for her face, overwhelmed her eyes and pointed nose that tipped slightly upward.

“We were just talking about you.” She looked over at her minions and breathed a laugh through her nose.

“Oh yeah?” I said. Trapped in the smallest bathroom in the school, with only two stalls and one long sink, I shared the space with unfriendly forces. I swallowed hard and nearly choked on my saliva. I glanced at the girl standing beside Zoë and realized we used to be friends. Shelby and I played soccer together in the sixth grade.

“So, Skye, I heard a little rumor about you,” Zoë said.

“Okay.”

“Aren’t you a little bit curious?”

“No. Not really.”

“Oh, come on. You have to be.”

“What is it, Zoë?”

“I heard you wrote a story about being bullied. Poor baby, you’re not gonna go psycho, are you?”

“What?”

“My source overheard Ms. Stone and another teacher talking about it.”

“Whatever. They were probably talking about me winning that writing contest. Yeah, first place. Pretty awesome, huh?” I had been kicked in the gut. Well, not literally, but that’s what it felt like having these girls corner me. Everything went numb, except my brain. I couldn’t imagine how they found out. I looked at Shelby for help, but she was more interested in biting her fingernail. I threw my stuff back in my purse and reached for the door, but Zoë pushed me aside and hurried in front of me.

With a quick snap of her ponytail, she glanced back at me and said,“Whatever.”

I waited it out for a few minutes in the bathroom. The call for bus riders filtered through the intercom, and I finally poked my head out just as last bell rang and made a dash for it. I fought my way through the crowd that had begun to fill the hallways and ran to my locker. I noticed Zoë’s handiwork immediately. On my locker: a post-it note with the word “LOSER” in nice, big block letters and a picture of a stick figure with a huge head. It had curly hair and glasses, and it was crying. Great Sharpie skills. I grabbed it and crumpled it in my hand. The sharp little edges poked my palm.

Author Bio ~

Christine H. Bailey teaches Creative Writing and Written Composition at a private university in Tennessee. Before teaching English, Bailey worked as a journalist, a marketing/public relations writer, and a freelance editor.

Girl in the Middle is Bailey’s debut novel. To learn more about this author and her work, visit her online at www.cibailey.com.

You can find Christine at:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads

You can find GIRL IN THE MIDDLE at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Giveaway ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~ TALK ABOUT A TOUGH DECISION! TINA GAYLE'S GOT A BABY DECISION ~

I'd like to welcome author Tina Gayle to my blog today! She's here to tell us about her book BABY DECISION. Take it, Tina!

If you’d like summer time picture of things I’m doing you can find them at http://tinagayle.wordpress.com/

Author Bio ~

Tina Gayle grew up a dreamer and loved to escape into the world of books.

She is currently working on two different series. The last book in the Executive Wives’ Club series will be coming out 2014. This series combines elements of women fiction with the passion of romance.

The Family Tree series has two books out with Fallen Leaves release in April of 2014. A paranormal romantic suspense series, the books follow the keeper of the Winston manor and the trials she has to overcome to remain in the house of her ancestors.



Find Tina Gayle everywhere



Home - www.tinagayle.net

Blog - www.tinagayle.blogspot.com

Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle

Goodread - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle

Google + - https://plus.google.com

Linkin - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tina-gayle/11/689/759

Blurb ~

Susan York faces the biggest decision of her life. "A baby or college?"

Unmarried and confused, Susan is not looking for a guy. She only wants to get through her classes without getting sick.

Colt Lefevour needs help with his English Lit homework until he discovers Susan is pregnant. Hurt from his ex-girlfriend aborting his baby, he wants to be the father of Susan’s baby, but can he convince her to let him help.

Excerpt ~

“It just doesn’t make sense to me, Kelly. He’s a smart guy. Why would he need me to help him with the class?” Susan watched the blade of the knife go through the onion. She was glad her job in Kelly and Jason’s household didn’t include cooking. Kelly had insisted she liked the chore. Susan, as the maid, only had to clean up.

“Jason is a smart guy, too. But he can’t spell worth a damn,” Kelly said around the matchstick in her mouth. Susan really didn’t believe the technique kept the tears away.

“Yes, but Jason loves you.” Susan wondered if anyone could not find Kelly loveable. Besides being a beautiful blonde with blue eyes and a killer figure, she was smart. Too bad she...

“Maybe, but when we were teamed up together in the master’s program, he was a royal pain.” Kelly threw the match in the trash. “I think the man went out of his way to find big words to use in our report so he could ask me how to spell them.” She scooped onion pieces off the cutting board and put them into a skillet. “And believe me, he was just like Colt. Jason wanted me to go out with him, and he thought if he pestered me enough, I’d give in.”

“So what should I do?” Susan shifted on the wooden barstool to get more comfortable. The baby rolled over and stretched. The soft pressure against the wall of her abdomen drew her hand to her stomach. “The man is hot. I’ll never be able to resist him.”

“What’s wrong?” Concern rang in Kelly’s voice.

“Nothing, why?” Susan said, confused by the quick shift in topics.

“You had a funny look on your face.” Kelly picked up the green bell pepper and started chopping.

“Oh, the baby is moving.”

“Really?” Kelly’s eyes lit up.

Susan knew how much Kelly wanted to have a baby. It was part of the reason she was living with Kelly and Jason. “Do you want to feel the power of an all-star kicker?”

“Yes.” Kelly put down her knife and walked around the counter.

Her hand must have alerted the baby, because a kick hit Kelly’s palm.

“It must be amazing to feel a little person growing inside you,” Kelly said in awe.

“Usually.” Susan shrugged. “Sometimes, though, it’s more discomfort than amazement. Like at night when the baby wakes me, or during the day when he lays on my bladder. Sometimes I feel like an alien is invading my body, with demands I can’t meet.”

“You know you don’t have to face this alone. Jason and I will help you in any way we can, even if you don’t want to let us adopt your baby.” Kelly placed her hand on Susan’s shoulder. “You know we think of you as part of the family.”

“Yes, but...” Susan didn’t want to go over this again, but she still didn’t know what she should do. “If I keep the baby, how will I be able to go to school and get a degree? And if I let you and Jason adopt it, my parents will never forgive me.”

Susan ran her hand along the edge of the cold granite countertop. “You know my dad. He still refuses to talk to me.”

“He’ll come around.” Kelly walked back into the kitchen. The scent of onions filled the room when she stirred them in the pan. “You have to give him a little time, and try to see it from his point of view. Not only does he feel like he’s losing you, but he thinks he’s losing his grandchild too.”

“But why can’t he see this as a decision I have to make for myself? I want to get an education so I can make a good living, but I can’t if I’m trying to take care of a baby.”

Read First Chapter of "Baby Decision" and Reviews



Purchase ebook at.

www.smashwords.com

www.kobobooks.com

itunes.apple.com

At Amazon

www.barnesandnoble.com



Thanks for hosting me.

~ IN WITH FLYNN! ~

Today I am pleased to be able to share Darcy Flynn's newest release HAWKE'S NEST! Isn't this cover beautiful?

Now let's hear a little bit about what's between the covers...

Blurb ~

Running away is nothing new for Annie Dell, aka high-fashion model Anna Delany. With the paparazzi hot on her trail, an out of town wedding couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. What better place to hide out than the quaint Florida beach town Liddy’s told her so much about. But a delayed flight, the mix up with the car rental, then a speeding ticket from the local Sheriff of Nottingham, her getaway is looking anything but relaxing.


Franklin County Sheriff, Levi Hawke, is tired of the spoiled, out-of-control students on fall break, who think they can speed through his county without consequence. After giving a ticket to a beautiful young woman he assumes is just another daddy’s girl looking for some fun in the sun, he discovers she’s his weekend date at his best friend’s wedding.


Through gritted teeth, masked by a half-hearted truce, they survive the weekend, only to find themselves stranded alone in the middle of a hurricane. You can discover a lot about a person while spending thirty-six hours without the comforts of electricity and modern conveniences. When circumstances further extend her stay in town, Levi pries deeper to find out what Annie’s running from. He knows when someone is haunted by their past. As the saying goes ... it takes one to know one.

Excerpt ~


Annie took a sip of Sauvignon Blanc and glanced at Levi. He had shoved his chair back from the table and sat holding his wine glass in his right hand while perusing her with his keen baby blues.

Blatantly.

Openly.

Audaciously.

Fine, she could handle his rude stares. She’d been ogled by far worse than him. She tilted her head to one side and smiled. The smile photographer Dave Mandel of Glamour Magazine claimed was irresistible. Well, no time like the present to put that ridiculous statement to the test.

“So, Sheriff.” She scooted her chair closer to his and the sudden alarm that entered his eyes was delicious. She lifted her glass in the air. “I propose we call a truce. After all, we’re here to celebrate the wedding of your best friend and my best friend. And since we’ve been paired for the weekend, by the matchmaking bride, we may as well make the most of it.”

She gave him her most candid, but coy expression, daring him to disagree. “What do you say?” she coaxed softly.

“How could I deny such an earnest and sincere request?”

Something about the way he said it churned her insides, but she gave nothing away as she smiled brightly at him. Tilting his head in salute, he raised his glass and touched it to hers, the sound of crystal sealing the deal.

Author Bio ~

Darcy Flynn is known for her heartwarming, sweet

contemporary romances. Her refreshing storylines, irritatingly handsome heroes and feisty heroines will delight and entertain you from the first page to the last. Miss Flynn’s heroes and heroines have a tangible chemistry that is entertaining, humorous and competitive.


Darcy lives with her husband, son, two English

Setters and a menagerie of other living creatures on her horse farm in Franklin, Tennessee. She raises rare breed chickens, stargazes on warm summer nights and indulges daily in afternoon tea.


You can find Darcy at:

Website/Blog: Twitter: Facebook: Amazon Author Page: Goodreads: Pinterest: Google+

You can buy HAWKE'S NEST at:

http://amzn.com/B00L3WPFZE

Giveaway ~

Darcy has been kind enough to offer one free e-copy! All you need to do is go to her website and follow her newsletter. Then leave a comment here telling us you have, and you're entered to win!